The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-11-26
TEMPERANCE.
DEAD.
"The Dear Fellow Is All Right Now-No
Saloons Up There"

y
beauty, and we who loved him were
glad!
His coffin rested on his draped piano,
his banjo and his flute beside it. And
as we looked on his brown curls
thrown up from the cold, white brow,
on his skilled hands folded on his
breast, on his sealed lips, of which wit
and melody had been the very breath
ings, the silence was an awe, weight
upon us, yet our voiceless thanks rose
up to God that he was dead.
Always courteous in manner. kind
in word, obliging in act, every body
liked Med" the handsome, brilliant
Ned.
Three generations of ANCESTORS, hon
orable gentlemen all, had taken the
social glass as gentlemen may, but
never lowered themselves to drunken
ness-never, no, not one; but their
combined appetite they had given as
an heirloom to Ned, and from his in
fancy he saw wine offered to guests in
the dinner parties, and, when he had
been "a perfect little gentleman" was
given by his father one little sip.
He grew and the taste grew. and
when his father was taken all restraint
but mothers love was taken.
AS the only child of praying
mother, now the church would hold
him up, now the saloon would drag
him down; now his rich voice would
join his mothers to swell the anthems
of the church, now make her night
hideous with his ribald songs. So all
along the years he was her idol and
her woe.
When her last sickness was upon her
the mother said to friend:
They tell me when am gone Ed
die VIII go down unchecked, that in
some wild spree or mad delirium he
will die. But he will not. His fathers
created the appetite they gave my boy.
His disgrace is their sin, and n,y sin,
too. He saw it on our table, tasted it
in our ice-creams, jelli $ and sauces.
For this my punishment is greater
than | could bear, but for the sure
faith that God has forgiven me and
will answer my daily, nightly prayers,
and Eddie will die an humble penitent.
1t is just that be forbidden to enjoy
here the promised land, but 1 know
Whom l believe, and my boy will be
carried safely over"
As death drew nigh every breath
was prayer for Eddie" and, as he
chafed her death-cold hands, the pallid
lips formed the words no ear could
catch, ''Meet-me-in-Heaven." And
his voice, rich and full, responded, 81
will-mother. l will"
And as from her mountain height of
faith and love she caught glimpse of
that promised land" with seraph s
smile she whispered: 'I-thank-
Thee--O-Father," and was gone
And his uncomfortable grief made
one say to another: "His mother S
death will be his salvation"
He covered the new-made grave with
flowers, and when others had left the
cemetery he went back and sat beside
it till nightfall, and then went to his
lone home, and the oppressive silence
drove him out to walk. He passed a
saloon; some of his old associates came
out and said kind words of sympathy.
His soul was dark and sad, and from
the open door came light and cheerful
voices, and he went in.
Before the long spree was over he
babe crony ''take that old book out
of my sight"
That old book!-the Bible he had
seen his sainted mother read morning,
night, and often midday, and from
which he had read to her those suffer,
ing, dying days.
Then friend of his mother took him
to her home and brought him back tc
soberness, remorse, and horror OF
himself. For months he did nobly and
became active in Christian work, and
refused all the urging "to just step in
and see your old friends" and we felt
there was joy in Heaven.
Then he was asked to bring his ban
jo and sing at an oyster-supper at the
most respectable saloon in town, where
"no one is ever asked to drink"
A wild spree was the result, and his
robe was SO mired we doubted if il
ever had been white. And he doubted
too, lost hope, lost faith in himself,
and, worse, lost faith in God.
Kind arms were thrown around him,
and again he was placed upon his feet
very humble, very weak, he tried once
more to walk the Heavenward path.
Il am very glad to see you so well, u
said one day when met him.
81 don't know how long it will last, u
he said, sadly.
Forever, hope" said cheerily.
Il shall try hard to have it, but
there will come an unguarded moment
but y0u know nothing about it.
Some two weeks after met a ply
stefan.
II have case for you ladies. Ned
is very sick"
Has liquor any thing to do with it. "
mo, not at all. He has pneumonia,
but his old drinking has so ruined his
stomach it will go hard with him."